Water Cycle

GRADE 10
Terms- define in your notebook
Evaporation
Condensation
Saturation
Precipitation
Infiltration
Percolation
Ground water
 Run off
Through flow
Hydrology
• Is the study of surface and underground water .
• When rain falls some run off on the surface to join streams, some evaporates
and some percolates in rock under the surface .
• Rocks control the movement of water on and under the earth’s surface.
• Sources of surface water includes : lakes, rivers, seas, swamps and springs.
• Water flowing underground is termed subsurface ground water example
underground rivers, wells, and aquifers.
• Some underground water may eventually reappear on the surface as springs.
Water on the earth
• Most of Earth’s water approx. 97% is salt water that is found in
the oceans.
• Only 3 % is fresh water - of the 3 % about three quarter is
found in the ice caps near the north and south poles.
• Some in the atmosphere – as water vapour
• Less than 1 % of the water on the earth is fresh water that is
available for humans to use .
Distribution of water on earth
• Most of the earth’s water is salt
water.

• The fresh water sources are lakes,

rivers and shallow groundwater –
only these are available for human
use.
The sun is the source that drives the
water cycle

• The hydrological cycle is the system which

describes the distribution and movement of water
between the earth and its atmosphere. The model
involves the continual circulation of water
between the oceans, the atmosphere, vegetation
and land. It is also called the Water cycle
Processes involved

Precipitation Saturation Condensation

Water vapour Evaporation

Water cycle – draw this diagram in your notebook
add – saturation/ through flow and percolation
 Note
• Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.
Evaporation is the primary pathway that water moves from the liquid state back into
the water cycle as atmospheric water vapor.
• Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plants. It is also defined as the
process in which plant roots absorb water and then release the water in the form of
vapour through the leaves
• Condensation is the transformation of gaseous form of water (i.e., water
vapour) into solid form (ice) or liquid form (water).
• Saturation is the process by which clouds can hold no more moisture
• Precipitation is any liquid or frozen water that forms in the atmosphere and falls
to the Earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or snow.
 Cont’d
Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil and is
governed by two forces : gravity and capillary action.

• Percolation is the process by which ground water enters rocks and soils

• Through flow- below the ground some water flows sideways through the soil-this is
called through flow .

• Run off occurs when there is more water than the land can absorb. The excess water
flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds.
How does the hydrological cycle works?

 The sun’s energy powers the processes in the cycle. It’s

energy in the form of light, and heat causes water to
evaporate from oceans, rivers, lakes and even puddles of
water to transpire from plant through their pores. Warm air
currents rising from the earth’s surface lift this water vapour
up into the atmosphere.
 How does the hydrological cycle works?
 When the air currents reach the cooler layers of the atmosphere, the water
vapour condenses around and clings on to fine particles in the air. This step is
called CONDENSATION. When enough vapour attaches itself to tiny pieces
of dust particles, it forms a cloud.

 As the clouds grow larger they eventually reach the state where they cannot
hold any more moisture ( SATURATION ). The droplets then fall from the
sky as PRECIPITATION
How does the hydrological cycle works?
 Once precipitation reaches the ground, some re-evaporated, some water
will become RUNOFF that goes into streams and rivers as it flows back
to the ocean, some of the precipitation will be absorbed into the soil
(INFILTRATION)

 and rocks ( PERCOLATION) some of the water join the earth’s

GROUND WATER supply. All this water may eventually find its way
back to the surface via springs. Then cycle will start again.
Activity (discussion)
Activity
Complete worksheet
Ground Water
• Permeable
• Porous
• Pervious
• Impermeable
• Water table
• Through flow
 How water enters rocks ?
• Water enters rocks which are porous (having pore spaces )
example sandstone or rocks which are pervious ( having joints
and cracks ) example granite.
• Rocks which allow water to pass through them are permeable .
• Rocks which do not allow water to pass through them are
impermeable example clay .
• Clay is porous as water enter it but it is also impermeable
as water will not pass through .
• NB Some water soaks right down and fill up the pores and cracks in
the rock . This water is called ground water.
 Water table
The upper level of the zone of saturation in permeable rocks is
known as the water table .

• The position of the water table rises and falls with the relief of the
land.
• Its position also varies seasonally according the amount of rainfall
received .
• After periods of heavy rainfall the water table will rise near to the
surface but at the end of a drought it will be found at greater
depth.
• In places where the water table comes to the surface of the ground
springs , lakes and swamps may develop.
Position of the water table
• The zone of non – saturation is
nearest to the surface. Water passes
through but never remains in the
pores of the rocks in this zone . This
zone provides the water used by
plants growing in the soil.
• The zone of permanent saturation
begins at the level below which the
rocks are permanently saturated.
The upper level of the zone is called
the water table.
Water table
 Characteristics of ground water
• Ground water may be describes as being hard or soft.
• Water is said to be hard if it contains a high concentration of mineral
salts example calcium, magnesium, and iron compound ( usually associated with
limestone regions)
• Water which has a low concentration of mineral salts is said to be soft.
• The degree of hardness of ground water determines its suitability for drinking and
its usefulness in industry.
• Very hard ground water is unsuitable for drinking unless it is treated.
• It does not form a lather with soap and therefore it is unsuitable for use in those
types of industry which need large amount of water for washing purposes such as
wool / textile industry.
Underground feature – Spring
• Spring occur when the water flows
naturally out of the ground without any
interference from man .The water flows
freely from the spring when the water
reaches the ground surface.
• Springs commonly develop when a
permeable rock lies on top of an
impermeable layer. Water which has
sunken into the permeable rock cannot
continue to soak downwards and so re-
emerges along the line of the junction.
 Artesian Basin
• An Artesian basin is formed when a layer
of permeable rock is sandwiched between
two layers of impermeable rocks.
• The structure forms a shallow syncline,
with the ends of the permeable layer
exposed at the surface. When it rains water
enters the permeable layer and soak down
into it. The water is trapped in the
permeable layer. The layer becomes
saturated with water and is called an
AQUIFER .
• Wells dug into the artesian basin are
known as artesian wells .
Assignment
• List and explain human activities that can
pollute surface and underground water.
 Value of underground water
Water obtained from springs and artesian wells are beneficial to
humans ;
High level of purity – bacteria is filtered out as water infiltrate the soil
(safer to drink)
High quality – mineral dissolve give it taste and quality
Source of energy – use to heat / cool buildings example Canada
Economical – cheaper to tap water
Provides water for industrial (factories ) domestic ( populated
areas) agricultural ( for plants and animals) .
 Natural reservoir
 In the Caribbean and other parts of the world human
activities pollute surface and underground water
Surface water

Industrial discharges / Toxic chemicals

Agricultural Activities

Sedimentation

Mining activities

Acid rain

Housing development and dump sites

Atmospheric pollutants

Urban runoff
References
• Geography for CSEC
• General Geography in diagrams
• Caribbean Environment